CHRIS STEVENSON, QMI Agency

MONTREAL -- Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas has had his ups and downs in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Montreal Canadiens.

But the veteran made one of the saves of the playoffs in the second overtime of Game 5 Saturday night and shortly after, the Bruins won it.

Now they take a 3-2 series lead into Tuesday night's Game 6 at the Bell Centre.

Surely there had to be a moment when Montreal's Brian Gionta had the puck on his stick in the second overtime and the open side to Thomas' left on a 2-on-1 that the Bruins thought that was it. Right, Zdeno Chara?

"No, no ... well, maybe a little bit," said the Bruins captain. "When you have Tim in the net, anything is possible. He's been doing that for years. He's been outstanding. Two-on-one, that's the situation. It's a hockey situation. You have to approach it that way and they made a nice play, but Timmy made an even nicer play. He made a really great save. You have to believe. You can't be thinking, 'Oh, my God, it's over.' You have to rely on your guys to make big saves, big blocks, big plays. We got a little bit lucky, too. That's part of it.

"We were pumped up when you have a goalie making big saves like that. It's the turning point in OT. Shortly after we scored."